Each of the games in the handheld Pokémon RPG series, from
the first games in 1996 to the latest ones in 2017, takes place in a particular fictional region of the Pokémon world, and begins with the player receiving a Starter Pokémon from that region's Pokémon Professor. By traveling around the world, catching and evolving Pokémon, and defeating other Trainers in battle, the player increases the size and strength of his or her Pokémon collection. A major subplot of each game is to defeat a criminal organization trying to take over the world through the misuse of Pokémon. These organizations include Team Rocket, Team Aqua and Team Magma, Team Galactic, Team Plasma, Team Flare, and Team Skull/Aether Foundation.